Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

23 April 2025

Reading From Luke 17:20-37

“Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

—Luke 17:20-21

      The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom.  Every blood washed, born-again follower of Jesus is a citizen of the Kingdom.  Its borders extend to wherever human beings have surrendered their will and control to the King of Kings.  Its military are the angel armies who encamp round about the sons and daughters of the Most High God.  Yes, there are visible church buildings, ministries and programs all over the world, but the real Kingdom is invisible. 

     Every child of God has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them.  The Holy Spirit unites everyone who is part of the Kingdom no matter the time or place in which they lived.  Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  Since every follower of Jesus is blessed with eternal life, I believe that our loved ones who served the Lord are still with us, united with us.  The same eternal Spirit who lives within them lives within us.  By the Spirit we are all partakers of the divine nature, united with God Himself. 

     The saints who have transitioned, and every believer is called a saint in the New Testament, have been perfected.  But we who are still trapped in the tent of our bodies in our present reality, are still in the process of being perfected.  As the bits of our hearts and lives that do not honor Jesus are surrendered to Him, we become more and more like Him from glory to glory.  As Christians become more like Christ, their unity increases. 

     Jesus showed by His example how to bring Heaven to Earth.  We do this by manifesting the love of God into the world around us.  Manifesting His love is done by having the courage to show compassion to others.  In this way the spiritual Kingdom has an impact on the physical world.  Jesus not only changes our hearts spiritually, but that spiritual change gradually works its way into the material areas of our lives.  Born again children of God begin to make different decisions from before they knew the Lord and the choices that honor Him make life better for us and brightens the corner of the world where we are.

     This increase of unity, holiness and compassion will find its crescendo on the Last Day when the invisible Kingdom of God will become visible and the Bride of Christ celebrates the marriage supper of the Lamb with the Bridegroom Jesus.  Everything will be placed under His feet.  The Earth will be cleansed with fire and renewed to its paradisiacal glory as God brings about the New Heaven and the New Earth where we shall reign with Christ forever. 

This is the kingdom that the Jews of Jesus’ day were looking forward to.  What they did not understand is that the spiritual kingdom must come first in the hearts of God’s people and that those born again people will share in His visible glory when our faith is made sight.  In this way, the Kingdom is here now and is to come in the future. There will be no end to His rule and we will be with the Father forever in His celestial Kingdom.

“Heavenly Father, it is difficult to walk by faith.  Thank You for giving us the spiritual tenacity we need to trust You even when our surroundings don’t seem to match what You intended life on Earth to be like.  I pray that You would continue to empower us to make this world a better place as we endeavor to expand Your Kingdom by ministering Your love and message of reconciliation.  We know that as we do so, we will see Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.  Increase our faith and help us in our unbelief.  You are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Show us what it means to function in Your power and authority.  In the strong and mighty Name of Jesus I pray these things.  Amen.”

This, then, is how you should pray:

“Our Father in Heaven,

hallowed be Your Name,

Your Kingdom come,

Your will be done,

on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from the evil one.”

—Matthew 6:9-13

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
    and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
    and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

—Revelation 1:1b-8